California Walnut Growers See Boost From Oversees

According to the Free Lance News, in Hollister, CA, last year’s walnuts crop was moderately larger than the previous year, however, the crop was valued at $1.8 million more — going from $2.9 million to $4.7 million in production.

Advertisement

“What’s happened with the walnuts is the consumers have become more aware of the health benefits of walnuts, so the demand has gone up. There’s been an increase in demand not only in the United States but worldwide for California walnuts,” Ronald Ross, the agricultural commissioner for San Benito County told the Free Lance News.

Walnut grower Frank Guerra says China also is growing market for California walnuts.

“There’s an expanding number of middle-class Chinese that are able to afford walnuts,” he said. “It was a very small market seven years ago and it’s just exploded in the last six years.”
The rising market price of walnuts has affected growers across the county including those who grow conventional walnuts, such as Guerra, and those who grow organic walnuts.

Top Articles
25 Years of Project GREEEN’s Growth in Controlled Environment Agriculture

0